Folding egg box



S. REICH- FOLDING EGG BoX' Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed Sept. 22, 1933 Fla. 2.

M/l/[A/fOE WITNESS.

The primary object of Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in folding egg cartons of the kind set forth in my copending application Serial No. 672,382 died May 23, 1933.

this invention like that in the above mentioned application is to support the bottom of an egg carton in spaced relation to a supporting surface to cushion the same against breakage oi. the contents of the carton during shipment and general handling of the same. This is accomplished by reason of feet out from the box body and partition structure and which feet extend below the bottom oi the box body. However, in'this improved construction, the transverse partitionmembers are provided with centrally located T-shaped extensions which interlock with the bottom wall of the box body and which extend therebeyond to act as supporting feet or legs, while tongues are cut from the bottom wall and bear against the extension and maintain the same braced and in interlocking engagement with the bottom wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable leg supported egg carton which is simpie-and inexpensive of construction, easy to assemble and strong and rigid when set up for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved egg carton set up i'or use and looking at the underside thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse secing a locking flap 14. Coextensive with the front wall 11 is a partition section 15, the free longitudinal edge 16 of which constitutes an attaching flange for maintaining the box body in a set up position as will be presently explained. Cut from the bottom wall 10 so as to be coextensive with.

the front and rear walls 11 and 12, are legs 1'7 which when the box is'set up, extend downwardly below the bottom wall 10.

Also cut from the bottom wall 10 are looking flaps 18, the same being of a shape and so disposed as to provide a transverse slot in the bottom 10. The slots include an enlarged portion 19 and a restricted portion 20 for a purpose to be presently explained.

Out from the partition section 15 are transverse partition members 21 adapted to be folded down wardly into the box body, the upper end of each partition member 21 being provided with an inwardly extending slots 22 disposed centrally between the ends of the partition members. The lower end of each partition member is provided with a substantially T-shaped extension member 23 which includes a restricted neck portion 24 and oppositely disposed arms 25.

The box body. is formed by folding the blank A on the scored line into the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, whereupon the flap 16 is stitched or stapled to the rear wall 12 as at 26'. This stapling or stitching serves to maintain the walls of the box body in a set up position, while the partition section 15 bridges the space between the front and rear walls of the body. By folding or bending the partition members 21 downwardly, the respective T-shaped elements 23 may be inserted into the respective slots in the bottom wall 10 and initially positioned in even spaced vertical parallel relation. The enlarged portions of the T-shaped elements are inserted through the enlarged portions 19 of the slots, the flap '18 being pushed downwardly, after which the elements 23 are moved into the restricted portions 20 of the slots so that the arms 25 of the elements 23 underlie the bottom wall of the box. The tendency of the flaps -18 after having pushed downwardly is to return to normal position and in so 'doing, the same bear. against the respective elements 23 and maintain the same within the restricted portions 20 of the slots. The flaps 18 also serve to brace one side of the T-shaped elements which in turn constitute transversely disposed legs for cooperation with the legs 1'7 to support the bottom of the box body in spaced relation to a supporting surface on which it may be placed.

After the transverse partitions have been locked in vertical position, a central longitudinal par tition 27 is inserted into the slots 22 of the transverse partition. The partition 27 is slotted inwardly from its lower edge as at 28 to receive the transverse partitions and interlock therewith.

The upper edge of the longitudinal partition 27 5 is cut away to provide finger notches 29 which register with the respective compartments formed by the partition members constituting a cell iille for box body.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the T-shaped extensions on the transverse partition members interlock with the bottom wall of the box body and extend therebeneath to provide spaced feet which rigidly support the bottom wall of the box body in spaced relation with a supporting surface, the extension members being secured in interlocking engagement by reason of the flaps 18. When the cover 13 is swung closed and the locking flap 14 is engaged with the shoulders 30 extending inwardly from the front wall 11, a closed egg carton is provided. The longitudinal partition member 2'7 is of a height greater than the height of the transverse partition members to be engaged by the cover 13 to protect the inward caving of the top wall or cover during shipment and handling of the carton when filled with eggs.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:--

1. In a folding egg carton, a box body having spaced transverse slots in the bottom wall thereof, an egg filler partition structure within said box body including cross partition members, extension portions integral with said partition members passing through said transverse slots, and means struck from the bottom wall of said box body and bearing against said extension portions for maintaining said extension portions against one side wall of the respective transverse slots.

2. In a folding egg carton, an elongated box body having legs depending from the bottom wall adjacent opposite longitudinal sides thereof, an egg partition filler within said box body including spaced transversely disposed partition members, spaced transversely disposed slots provided in the bottom wall of said box-body each having an enlarged portion and a restricted portion, and inverted T-shaped extensions formed integral with the bottom of said transverse partition mem bers and insertable through the enlarged portion of said slots and movable to a locking position into the restricted portions of said slots, said extension members constituting transversely disposed legs for cooperation with said first mentioned legs for supporting the bottom wall of said box body in spaced relation to a supporting surface.

3. 'In a folding egg carton, an elongated box body having legs depending from the bottom wall adjacent opposite longitudinal sides thereof, an egg partition filler within said box body including spaced transversely disposed partition members, spaced transversely disposed slots provided in the bottom wall of said box body-each having an enlarged portion and a restricted portion, and inverted T-shaped extensions formed integral with the bottom of said transverse partition members and insertable through the enlarged portion of said slots and movable to a locking position into the restrictedv portions of said slots, said extension members constituting transversely disposed legs for cooperation with said first mentioned legs for supporting the bottom wall of said box body in spaced relation to a supporting surface, and means for maintaining said extension members in the restricted portions of said slots after their movement thereinto.

4. In an egg carton, a boxbody, an egg partition structure within said box body including transverse partition members, transversely disposed flaps cut from and bent downwardly from the bottom of said box body, and being of a shape to provide transverse slots in the bottom wall, each of which includes an enlarged portion and a restricted portion, inverted T-shaped extension elements formed integral with the bottom of said transverse partition members, and insertable through the enlarged portions of said slots into the restricted portion thereof with the arm portions of said inverted T-shaped extension elements disposed beneath and in interlocking engagement with the bottom wall of said box body. said flaps adapted to be folded upwardly against said elements to maintain the same in interlocking engagement with said bottom wall.

5. In a folding egg carton, a box body, spaced transversely disposed flaps struck outwardly from the bottom wall of said box body and providing similarly disposed slots, an egg filler partition structure within said bcx body including cross partition members, and extension portions integral with said partition members and passing through said transverse slots and held against one of the walls thereof by said flaps.

6. In a folding egg carton, a box body having spaced transverse partition members hinged at their top to opposite side walls of said box body,

said transverse partition members being of a height greater than the distance between their pivot points and the bottom of said box body, and spaced transverse flaps struck outwardly from the bottom wall of said box body and providing transverse slots equal in number to the partition members, the lower ends of said partition members extending through the respective slots and being held against one of the walls thereof by said flaps.

7. In a folding egg carton, a box body having spaced transverse partition members hinged at their top to opposite side wallsof said box body, said transverse partition members being of a height greater than the distance between their pivot points and the bottom of said box body, and spaced transverse flaps struck outwardly from the bottom wall of said box body and providing 

